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Friday, August 28, 2009

I wrote an article for a dear friend of mine. He is a digital photographer and photoshop artist. He is a member of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals and loves to spread the love for photography around the web. You can check out his website at www.dwaynetucker.com

Dwayne found me worthy of writing an introductory article for him about makeup as a launch to new section for beauty on his blog.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

...to stop by MAC without leaving with one of those little black bags.

I told myself I wasn't going to buy anything from MAC until tomorrow when I am going to attend the event Dillard's is holding to welcome the Fall collections for their cosmetic booths. MAC is hosting the largest event in the store and I was invited. They're going to be catered by a local Italian restaurant, do makeovers all day, give out prices and gift cards and other fun activities. If you are in the area and wish to attend, go ahead, it's at the Dillard's at the Coastland Center Mall from 6 to 8pm! It's open to anyone! if you wish to have a makeover done, you need to call ahead and schedule one...it's kind of late for that I guess, but you can try.

Usually on Friday's Jerrid and I pack up our things and head over to Fort Lauderdale to spend the weekend with my parents. This event will just postpone our drive, but we will see how I am feeling tomorrow and also plans...it's my sister in law's Birthday.

Jerrid and I were bored yesterday. It's been raining here lately. Here in Florida its ridiculous once its hurricane season. It could look like the most beautiful day, but like clockwork, once it hits a certain time in the day...it rains.

What else is there to do on a rainy day but go to the mall. It's not like we can really do anything that involves being outside...even the outdoor shopping facilities are cut out of the equation!

We drove over to the nearest mall, the Coastland Center here in Naples. There is no free standing MAC store there, that one is a few blocks down the street at the Waterside Shops, but I feel a better connection with the workers at the Dillard's booth. They are all so sweet.

I just stopped by to check out the new collections. You could look at as many swatches and pictures online as you want, it is always a totally different thing when you go to see them for yourself.

Then it hit me...you know that moment when you think to yourself "I can get ONE thing. It won't hurt and it's not like they're so expensive anyway". So I did. I got ONE thing. A lipgloss, which was exactly what I have been looking for. Next time I need to think "I could get one thing, but I should probably finish using things I already own in all the boxes and boxes of makeup I have".

MAC "Young Thing"

I've been looking for a dupe for NARS lipgloss in "Striptease". A gorgeous nude with a hint of shimmer, but with a price tag of $24 bucks a pop, I think I can settle for a nice dupe. "Young Thing" in MAC's new Art Cosmetics Collections is about as close to a dupe for "Striptease" as I think I have ever come across. Besides the fact that MAC's lipglosses are a bit sticky, and that is the downfall for some, it's a perfect color match. The stickiness may be super annoying, especially when the wind blows your hair right into your lips, but it helps the gloss stay on longer. Which is one of the downfalls of NARS lipglosses. They are not sticky at all, but they don't have much of a lasting power.

I don't have any images of "Striptease" because I don't own it...and I don't feel as though the images online from NARS do the color much justice.

"Young Thing" is a GREAT lipgloss to wear alone, paired with your favorite nude or pink lipstick, or to tone down those super pigmented lipsticks. If you think Lavender Whip is a little too over the top for you, but you own it and wish to make it more wearable, pair it up with a lipgloss like "Young Thing". It tones down the color and turns it into a super chic, wearable frosty lilac.

I do not need to buy anything else that is cosmetic related...but I am waiting patiently for the launce of the High Definition Collection from MAC. There is a pale frosty peach color lipstick that is coming out with that collection called "Close To Real" and even though I know it will be added to my collection of lipsticks that I barely use...I want it. "Want" is a very important verb...it can control so many emotions in a gal!

A lot of you have been asking about my baby! He is doing great and he is getting so big! Our pediatrician is so proud of us! He is gaining plenty of weight and is in the 95th percentile at 17.5 pounds! He will be turning 3 months old on September 3rd! I still am dazed at how quickly time goes by, and everyday is amazing! I guess time flies when you're having fun, and he definitly makes my days worth every breath!

Sorry for the blurry pic of him, he gets startled by the flash, so I don't use it.

For those of you who wanted to know about how I take pictures...I will do a post for you guys tomorrow! I just need another camera to take pictures of my camera taking pictures...if you get my drift!

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Here in South Florida, a very popular place to go for your day to night activities is the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL. This is my all time favorite place to go experience the nightlife, since the area is so new and well decorated, it really has lived up to being a must-see location here in South Florida, and another reason for a visit!

Last weekend when Jerrid and I drive over to Fort Lauderdale to visit my parents, as we do every weekend, since they are just an hour away, (Jerrid's family lives in Ohio, where he is originally from) we decided that it was about time for us to live it up South Florida style and hit up a party or two at the Hard Rock.

Our first stop was Gryphon night club. A nice laid back spot...lounge chairs surrounding the dance floor and bumping music makes you not want to take a seat. It's a real dark place that encircles you with bright background lights, ceiling fiber optics and colors that really set a nice mellow mood.

We didn't stay at Gryphon for long, but here are some pictures of the venue.

Connecting to Gryphon, is a night club which feels like a whole new world. The decorations give you the feeling of a mysterious wild desert with fossils and skulls hanging from the walls lit with the dancing light of surrounding candles. Tiki-hut style wood bar walls enclose the venue from the public eye. The name suits the place perfectly - Pangea.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Running is a great workout, but it's not always a running kind of day, if you know what I mean. I know I always try to find ways to workout without having to bounce around all over the place and spend a whole lot of time doing it.

People really forget what a great workout walking is! Those old ladies who power walk through the mall got it all right! Ever since I started walking, I noticed that I could work out longer, I ate less since my body did not require as much food anymore since I was not as hungry afterwards.

I really was interested in targeting my backside. I have been on a mission to find a simple workout that can tighten, firm, and lift my butt, because in all honesty...most of us are on the hunt for a good booty workout.

I asked Jerrid and of course...he had an answer for me!

Walking on an incline!

You can walk on an incline on the treadmill, or just walk up a hill. Stairmasters have been a bit hard on my knees, and walking on an incline is very easy, almost like walking on a smooth stairmaster and you really feel the burn...and QUICK!

I have never went past 5 minutes on the treadmill walking on the incline because your heart is really racing, as if you had been running for a long time, you feel the burn, and you don't want to do it for too long anyway because you don't want to build up your legs to get big.

This is a great quick workout to do...just walk on the incline for a few minutes and stretch.

Challenges the cardiovascular system without requiring speed; ideal for people, as mentioned above, either not in the mood for speed workouts, or people who cannot ambulate swiftly due to orthopedic conditions or obesity.

Because an incline challenges the heart at a slower walking pace, this means less impact on knees and hips. Incline walking is far superior to the elliptical trainer, because incline walking is actual walking, something that you do in real life. Whereas, the elliptical trainer provides a motion that does not relate to real-life movements of the human body.

The slow nature is good for people either just getting back into exercise after injury, or for people new to exercise who don't want to pull a muscle at faster speeds.

Recruits lower back muscles to keep your body erect

Provides a stretch to the calves and Achilles tendons

Targets glutes.

A great alternative for people suffering from heel pain (plantar fasciitis) because of the minimized heel-strike impact, and the stretching of the foot with each step

An alternative for people who are getting bored with the same 'ol flat walking or jogging

Drawbacks of incline walking:

For all practical purposes, there aren't any. The injury risk is very low. Even if you briskly walk an incline, the slope will limit how fast you can walk. In fact, people with knee pain may find that walking an incline produces less discomfort than walking level.

Since my last post about my Twitter page, I have received e-mails and comments on my bright and colorful striped bandage dress that I am wearing in my background image! I'm so glad you guys like my dress and I loved reading all your wonderful compliments!

I have been asked where I got it from and what brand makes it.

I got it from a random little boutique by my house here in Naples. (I didn't catch the name of the boutique) I had never really noticed the tiny store before until the last time Jerrid and I went to go for a stroll by the beach. They only had 2 of these dresses left and I had to have one! They had many more gorgeous bandage style dresses and other loveley fashions at great prices!

The dress is a Tricot Joli dress. I have never really heard of the brand before. When I search for other items from the line on the internet, I don't really seem to come up with anything, so I'm assuming it may be a new brand.

I'm sure you all have noticed my obsession with bandage style dresses, so I could assure you that I will have plenty more to come!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Working out can be such a hassle, and for some, they take it a bit too far. The key to a good work out is to not overdo it so much that you dread ever doing it again. Working out should make you feel good, not dead tired.

Here is a quick workout I do about 3 times a week. It's a very simple routine and doesn't require for you to leave your house.

For my workout routine, Jerrid has me use 3 pound dumbell weights...one in each hand. If you don't have dumbells and don't want to spend any money, you can use soup cans that are laying around the house. This is what Tocara (former ANTM hopeful now BET personality) insists on using in her workout videos...she incorporated items that you can find laying around your house so that you don't have any excuses!

If you want to add cardio to really burn that fat off quickly (i.e. - riding bike, running, eliptical machine - anything to get your heart pumping) and extra calorie burning exercises into your routine...just add 15 minute cardio sessions into your workout. One 15 minute cardio session to warm up before and one 15 minute session after to cool down. It is not necessary to do hours of cardio...unless you are training for a marathon or enjoy it.

Light weight workouts help you tone your muscles, which in turn help to burn fat. Most people have a sever misconception to working out...they assume just running on the treadmill for hours will help them lose weight, but they don't understand that method is the hard way. Using light weights is the easy and healthy way! You won't become deathly thin, you will tone up, lose fat, gain beautiful muscle, and feel healthier.

When using these exercises, it's good to do them in sets of a certain number. Usually I do them in 3 sets of 5. I rotate exercises, meaning that I do them in a cycle, and not doing the same exercise back to back. I will do one set of shoulder press, move on to the next exercise and then I am finished, I will begin the cycle all over again, until I have done the 3 sets.

Here are some simple exercises Jerrid has me do:

ARMS

Shoulder press : Using a light weight, start your arms at your sides and raise them to a full extend.

Tricep Extensions:Bending forward a bit and keeping your arm bend at a degree paralell to the ground, straighten out your arm to an extension.

3 sets of 5LEGS

In addition to lunges...add squats to the routine. Squats help work out your entire body since you are incorporating so many muscle groups!The only reason I did not add a photo of me showing an example of a squat is because the picture looked ridiculous...lol.

Squats : 3 sets of 6

ABS

Putting both dumbells in one hand for increased resistance, lean over to one side, feeling a stretch in your side abdominal muscles, fles your side to raise your body back to center.

3 sets of 10 each side

Toe Touches : With legs lifted into the air and straight, raise your upper body and touch your toes.

3 sets of 15

Bicycles: On your back while on the ground, alternate touching your knee to the opposite elbow as if you are pedaling an imaginary bicycle.

3 sets of 25

I hope you find these exercises helpful! I have been doing these quick and easy exercises for some time now, and have seen results! I also have added some leg lifts before bed time...simple pialtes leg lifts, doing 20 each leg - lifting my leg straight up, and lifting my leg up sideways while laying on one side. I have seen my body tone up, and feel great post baby! I don't wear myself out, and I don't need to pay a huge amount of money for a gym membership.

I will add some more exercises and I will also give you exampleof the leg lifts and other aerobic and pilate type exercises I like to do!

I am also adding a post for nutrition and diet soon.

As a former collegiate athlete, and an athlete who has aspired in becoming a professional, I have heard it all...I just want to share what works for me, with you!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Last weekend while Jerrid and I were visiting my parents, I stopped by my favorite Cosmetics Company Store at the Sawgrass Mills Mall. The Cosmetics Company Store, also known as CCO for short, is an outlet store for many brands of makeup. Usually you will find discontinued and older products there. It a great place to look around if you have missed out on a collection you really wish you had gotten your hands on because you may find your item there, and iut will be around 30% off! If MAC lipsticks cost $14 in the stores, at the CCO they will run for $10.

I picked up a lippie from the MAC Neo Sci-Fi Collection which launched in the spring of 2008 called Pleasureseeker. I love this color, its a Glaze finish peach-pink-gold with gold shimmer. Definitly something new for my collection!

Most of the colors in the collection are modern buffs and beiges with shimmer and hints of gold and refletcs packaged in neon orange compacts. This collection was right up my alley! One of my favorite blushes ran in this collection - Spaced Out (a shimmery peach). I'm going to need to hit up the CCO again soon and pick up some backup blush.

The glosses are super opaque and pigmented, they easily glide on your lips, and they last so long it will blow your mind. These glosses are not transparent at all...these are the real deal in lip pigmentation. There is absolutely no need for lipstick with these glosses. Just a dab of these babies gives you an all over super pigmented lip - a little goes a long way.

The gloss is extremely creamy and glides on your lips easily. They smell great, you can sense that peppermint undertone and it is quite cooling on the lips as well. Your lips don't end up feeling dried out no matter how long you wear these glosses, they really stay put and keep your lips creamy for hours.

Here is a shot of the new lip tars for the Fall '09 Collection(minus one color - a green shade)

The PinksHush / Anime

Here are swatches of the pinks:

The NeutralsPetty Beige / Conquest / Fondue

Here are swatches of the neutrals:

They come in so many colors to choose from and another amazing thing about them :

You can mix them together and create more colors!

You can control the level of mixture you wish to have...if you want a lighter shade of a color...mix in more of the lighter color to the darker shade. You can adjust the color as you wish! I'm loving this, it's like having hundreds of colors within a few tubes!

Here are some examples of my favorite mixture combinations!

You can purchase these lip tars as well as other OCC products online byvisiting occmakeup.com

Monday, August 10, 2009

When Friday came around, Jerrid and I really wanted to head on over to the east coast to visit my parents again. We usually go every Saturday so my mom can spend the day with the baby, but we decided to go on Friday so we could catch my nieces during tennis practice. We left real early on Friday and were home in an hour and 15.

The weather wasn't all that great, in fact it was drizzling a bit, so tennis was canceled for the day. The reason they go so early in the first place is to beat the heat...it gets so hot around the afternoon, it's too much for kids their age.

By the time the afternoon came around, it was gorgeous out, and so hot! We had to go by the beach! We got our things and headed over to Fort Lauderdale beach and set up our little place on the beach to lay out and take a nap.

We had so much fun and when we got home, time just seemed to keep on passing, so we ended up spending the night at my parents house.

The next day, my friend told us to head on down to Davie to watch the Miami Dolphins open training camp scrimmage. When I told Jerrid about it I could see his heart skip a beat, so we went over there to catch the action.

It was so hot! Scortching hot.

It sucks watching these players practicing and playing when I know that Jerrid is so much better. He is still hurt so there is not much he can do now, but he is working really hard to get back into the game as soon as he can. I am so proud of him and he is progressing so well and so quickly! He will be back in no time and I know he will be better than ever and take over the NFL!

Even though I lathered on the sunblock I still ended up getting pretty badly burnt, but I'm doing my best to keep my skin moisturized so that I won't peel too bad. At least this might help me get my tan back...I am tired of being so pale! I haven't been able to get a nice tan this year since I just had a baby, and bronzer doesn't do much but make you orange, so I'm glad I got some color.

We are still here at my parents house...ended up staying another night, and we are staying again tonite. I am really looking forward to watching my neices play tennis, it's been so long since I've seen them play and I want to see all their improvments! We're going real early...around 7 to watch them practice while it's still cool, so I'm off to bed!

Enjoy your Monday! I know it's the worst day of the week...but lets make the best of it